La. back in play for '06, players say

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; They get impression from union head
SAN ANTONIO -- It appears the Saints are closer to returning to New Orleans and playing their games in Louisiana during the 2006 season, based on information gathered Wednesday from a meeting conducted by ...

SAN ANTONIO -- It appears the Saints are closer to returning to New Orleans and playing their games in Louisiana during the 2006 season, based on information gathered Wednesday from a meeting conducted by NFL Players' Association executive director Gene Upshaw.

Upshaw met with Saints players in San Antonio and said he wants to have them return to their training facility in Metairie and split their eight home games between Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge and the Superdome, if possible, players said.

"The impression I got from (Upshaw) is we'd be back next year in New Orleans and play four games in the Superdome and four games in Baton Rouge," Saints defensive end Darren Howard said. "He didn't say it like that, but that's the impression I got.

"I guess that's what he's arguing for and the commissioner is pushing for. If I had to guess, if I had to put my money on it, I think we'll be back in New Orleans next year. But it's all hearsay until it happens."

Saints wide receiver Joe Horn said Upshaw stopped short of telling the players what they wanted to know.

"And that is whether to renew our lease and get prepared to stay here, or don't renew the lease and get prepared to move back," Horn said. "That's what everybody wanted to know, and Gene couldn't tell us that.

So they are purely specualting. It would be great, but none of what was said sounds like it's close to a certainty.